Genetic manipulation of native Bacillus cereus: a biotechnological tool for aquaculture

ABSTRACT

This work aimed to perform the genetic manipulation of the native B. cereus #25 strain and to evaluate the colonization in the intestinal tract of Litopenaeus vannamei. The expression of the GFPmut1, absence of amylase activity, and growth in spectinomycin plates confirmed the transformation of the strain (BC25GM). In the shrimp bioassay, its addiction in the feed showed non-difference for water quality, growth performance, and toxic effects for L. vannamei (survival 100%). The presence of cells expressing GFPmut1 in the midgut of the animals was observed, suggesting that the genetically engineered strain colonized the shrimp intestines. The relative fluorescence was 35% higher in the midgut of the shrimps feed with BC25GM. In conclusion, the present work showed that it is possible to manipulate a native B. cereus strain with the nonspecific pSG1154 plasmid. We reported the possibility to implement native strains as a biotechnology tool applied in aquaculture, especially to deliver beneficial molecules for shrimps.

KEYWORDS:

• Bacillus
• GFPmut1
• probiotics
• beneficial molecules
• Litopenaeus vannamei

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development under Grant Proc.No. 454918/2014-3; and financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brazil (CAPES) under Grant 001. Costa Filho, João is a student at Post-Graduation Program in Aquaculture. L.F. Marins is a research fellow from CNPq/Brazil (Proc. number 305928/2015-5).

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico [305928/2015-5]; Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior [454918/2014-3].